What Is Leisure? a Macintyrian Based Response
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Journal of Unconventional Parks, Tourism & Recreation Research JUPTRR Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 17-22 ISSN 1942-6879 translated into English as happiness, well- What is Leisure? being (Deci & Ryan, 2008; Waterman, 1993), or flourishing (Dunn & Brody, A MacIntyrian Based Response 2008). In his framework, leisure is James B. Wise essential to eudamonia, “And happiness [flourishing] is thought to depend on Minnesota State University, Mankato leisure; for we are busy that we may have leisure” (Aristotle, 2001a, 1177b, 4-6). Leisure is a primary contributor to human flourishing. Thus, it is imperative for humanity Leisure “gives pleasure and happiness to possess an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. This article addresses that and enjoyment of life, which are experi- need by outlining a conceptualization of leisure based on MacIntyre’s (2007) seminal enced, not by the busy man, but by those work After Virtue. This conception, because it is from a historicist perspective, has the who leisure” (Aristotle, 2001b, 1338a, 1-3). ability to evolve so as to continue to infuse people’s lives with meaning and enhance Aristotle is clear about what is to hap- their flourishing. These outcomes result from the three core elements of leisure: pen during leisure so people can flourish. community, freedom, and virtuous behavior. The article concludes with a brief discus- They are to execute the function unique to sion of implications associated with adopting the presented conceptualization. humans which is to reason “since reason more than anything else is man” (Aristotle, The seemingly straightforward ques- human beings. Thus, in the Platonic 2001a, 1178a, 7-8). Therefore, “leisure [is tion of what is leisure turns out not to be tradition it makes perfect sense to search to be] spent in intellectual activity” so easy to answer but this condition for the definition and purpose of leisure. (Aristotle, 2001b, 1338a, 11). The ability to should not thwart efforts to ascertain an Conversely, the historicist tradition views reason enables people to contemplate answer because leisure has been truth as created through human activity truths, act virtuously, cultivate friendships, identified by several contemporary authors and reflective of the corresponding and actively participate in civic life, all as a primary contributor to human historical context. Truth is dependent upon uniquely human actions (Hemingway, happiness or flourishing (Anderson & human activity and the details of the 1988). Heyne, 2012; Carruthers & Hood, 2007; epoch during which the truth was created. St. Thomas Aquinas (1952), an Aris- Heyne & Anderson, 2012; Hood & Within this tradition, it is assumed leisure’s totelian who lived in the 1200s, held a Carruthers, 2007; Wise, 2014). Conse- meaning and purpose are constantly being related view of the relationship among quently then, in order to promote human constructed. Therefore, searching for the human nature, happiness, contemplation, flourishing, it is essential to have a clear meaning and purpose of leisure is fruitless and leisure. For Aquinas, all human action and in-depth understanding of the and inappropriate (Blackshaw, 2010; aimed for one end or telos, happiness, concept. Rojek, 1995). Instead, the goal is to which was inexorably linked to the human Defining the concept is a logical determine what leisure means for people capacity to reason. “Happiness is man’s commencement point. Intuitively, finding a who inhabit a particular time and place. supreme perfection” (ST I-II, Q. 3, A. 2) definition seems a simple enough task, This article is a modest attempt, fol- and “consists entirely in contemplation” and it is if all one is concerned with is a lowing in the historicist tradition, to (ST I-II, Q. 3, A. 5). Leisure is essential definition. However, if one is searching for describe leisure and its role in human because it is a “requisite… for certain the definition of leisure the quest quickly flourishing. The article begins with a brief operations which belong to human life” becomes bogged down in a quagmire examination of leisure and its role in (ST I-II, Q.4, A. 7) and “this is clear of because asking leisure professionals for human flourishing from the Platonic contemplative happiness which is lost…by the definition of leisure elicits a wide range tradition, specifically examining ideas certain occupation, whereby a man is of diverse responses. Moving the search forwarded by Aristotle, Aquinas, and altogether withdrawn from contemplation” to textbooks or professional publications is Pieper. Then, a historicist-based concep- (ST I-II, Q.5, A. 4). During leisure, people not any more likely to be fruitful. Rather, tualization of leisure drawing upon the use their ability to reason to act virtuously the search is apt to turn up a classification work of MacIntyre (2007) is proposed. and comprehend, as best they could, the system by which the multitude of defini- Finally, implications for flourishing are nature of God and their place in His world. tions of leisure can be grouped (e.g., Ellis presented if the historicist based concep- More recently, Josef Pieper (1952), a & Witt, 1991). tion is adopted. Thomist, articulated a similar relationship To make sense of the difficulty in find- among human nature, reasoning, and ing the universal definition of leisure, one Platonic Perspective leisure. Pieper agreed the ability to reason ought to turn, at least initially, to philoso- is human nature and he maintained there phy because to answer the question The concept of leisure received much are two types of reasoning: ratio and “What is leisure?” requires philosophical attention from Aristotle (2001a, b), who intellectus. Ratio refers to using discur- inquiry. Hemingway (1993), a philosopher lived in the city-state of Athens during the th sive, logical thought to gain understanding steeped in the study of leisure, described 5 century B.C. He defined leisure as about truths. In contrast, understanding two broad philosophical approaches to freedom from obligation and centrally via intellectus is gained through intuition; understanding leisure: Platonic and positioned leisure within the framework of by being still and receptive to truth which historicist. The Platonic tradition postu- a well-lived life. For Aristotle (2001a), the “offers itself like a landscape to the eye” lates the existence of universal truths that telos or life-goal of a well-lived life was the (p. 9). Intellectus occurs during leisure are discoverable, although imperfectly, by achievement of eudamonia, often which for Pieper is defined by three Journal of Unconventional Parks, Volume 5 • Number 2 • 2014 17 Tourism & Recreation Research components. First, leisure is “an attitude of therapeutic recreation specialist. A exercise, content of the virtues, internal non-activity, of inward calm, of si- practice requires practitioners to possess goods they can access, and telos of the lence….which is the prerequisite of the more than technical skills; they must act practice. To add even more complexity, apprehension of reality” (pp. 26-27). virtuously. Therefore, members of the the dialogue is influenced by traditions or Second, leisure is celebratory; “man practice of snow skiing must not only be extended histories surrounding a practice celebrates and gratefully accepts the capable of negotiating various terrains and (MacIntyre, 2007). “A practice is reality of creation in leisure, and the inner snow conditions, they must also adhere to ….embedded in and made intelligible in vision that accompanies it” (p. 29). Finally, the skier responsibility code. terms of the larger and longer history of leisure exists so “that the functionary To excel at a practice means to attain the tradition through which the practice in [man] should continue to be a man – standards of performance for technical its present form was conveyed to us” and…that he should continue to be skills and virtuous behaviors established (MacIntyre, 2007, pp. 222-223). “The capable of seeing life as a whole and the by practitioners. Members who excel practice of leisure is and has been world as a whole” (p. 31). It is in leisure acquire the internal goods of a practice. impacted by numerous traditions including that people strive to “see” the essence of Internal goods are outcomes resulting slavery, capitalism, consumerism, things and the totality of truth. Human from participating in a particular practice classical leisure, liberal individualism, and intellect is employed to try and under- and can include satisfaction from perform- the Protestant work ethic” (Sylvester, stand, as much as is humanly possible, ing well, excitement from discovering new 2007, p. 210). the world, God’s plan, and humans’ place ways of performing, and improved The flux nature implies the meaning in the plan. Those who do so are happy. physical functioning and health. Internal and purpose of a practice such as leisure goods add richness, purpose and meaning is ever evolving. Although there may not A Historicist Perspective to practitioners’ lives. be one ultimate definition, description, or As people accumulate practice relat- function of leisure, individual leisure In stark opposition to Aristotle, Aqui- ed experiences they weave those practices share similarities. nas, and Pieper, many contemporary experiences into a coherent personal I can think of no better expression to philosophers do not believe there is an narrative or life story (MacIntyre, 2007). A characterize these similarities than immutable, universal view of and function narrative links discrete events, separated ‘family resemblances’; for the various for leisure within human lives. Instead, by time and context, together in a resemblances between members of a terms such as leisure represent concepts meaningful way. When people reflect on family – build, features, colour of that are characterized as having blurred or share their narratives they become eyes, gait, temperament, and so on edges rather than clearly defined, fixed more aware of who they are, what they and so forth – overlap and criss-cross boundaries (Wittgenstein, 2009). Accord- like to do, and what matters most to them.